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Post by c0d3monk33 on Oct 18, 2005 12:01:45 GMT 12
Ok, so I just picked up $8 worth of FIMO. I used this stuff years ago as a we kiddie however this time around I want to try and sculpting some North African buildings with it.
Any opinions on the sculptability of FIMO Phil? I'm looking to roll it into thin sheets and cut, detail the pieces as flat walls. So I want something reasonably robust that I can mess around for with hours before baking solid. Something I can cut windows and doors in and detail post baking.
The big question I guess is shrinkage as it bakes...
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Pirate Wench
Scalpel supremo
my favourite finger paint is strawberry flavour
Posts: 353
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Post by Pirate Wench on Oct 18, 2005 12:44:38 GMT 12
it's not too bad on shrinkage. Baking needs to be at low temp cos it can bubble. Fimo is actually one of the more stiffer polymer clays and is slightly more brittle when baked. Dukit is cheaper than fimo, and a new zealand product too!, it's also a bit softer and more workable. The one thing you need to to with any polymer clays is really work them well beofre you start trying to shape and scult, this conditions the clay. Once you start working with it, if you find it too soft you can put it in the fridge to firm up a bit. cutting detail is going to be a bit difficult post baking, I'd try get all the detail stuff done pre bake really. It can be sanded after baking, though I find that totally gums up my sand paper so I don't do it
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Post by c0d3monk33 on Oct 18, 2005 12:58:34 GMT 12
Thanks Pirate! Good pointers. I'll definitely be doing cutting pre baking to create holes for doors and windows. Post baking they'll be detailed with door and window frames etc.
I'm really looking for something that I can texture lightly and use as a basic wall with additional detailing done post baking using green stuff most likely.
How's it for 'scribing' details into the surface pre-baking? I'l looking to scribe cracks and 15mm scale bricks onto the surface...
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Post by PitYak Studios on Oct 18, 2005 18:33:44 GMT 12
Never used fimo, dukit's ok though, and cheap as the proverbial chips. It also tends to bubble and burn when you've got a shit old oven like I have. One bizzarre thing I've noticed is after baking, if you bake again it gets soft.
If your sandpaper is clogging (on anything, not just clay) you should use wet emery paper, or even better wet sanding sponges. That will also help get a smoother finish.
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Post by PitYak Studios on Oct 19, 2005 9:53:37 GMT 12
AS pw says, mix your stuff well before use. i find buying two colours and mixing till you get a uniform colour (as with epoxy) is handy.
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Post by dustand on Oct 19, 2005 11:55:38 GMT 12
anyone know how translucent is dukits translucent putty is?
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Pirate Wench
Scalpel supremo
my favourite finger paint is strawberry flavour
Posts: 353
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Post by Pirate Wench on Oct 19, 2005 12:26:47 GMT 12
It's translucent *grin* No really it's kind of like a fibreglass privacy screen, kind of allows light through but is still a bit milky, it's not clear a good NZ webstore for all kinds of polymer clays is this www.zigzag.co.nz/they sell all kinds there, the liquid sculpy looks interesting and is something I've been wanting to toy around with. The clays take impressions wonderfully and you can use all kinds of stuff to texture it, try coarse sandpaper, or find a rough rock or bark and press it all over the surface, then you can add paving/brick mortar lines. best thing about polymer clays is if you screw up you can always scrunch it back into a ball and start over This leaf was made from green dukit. I rolled it out on a sheet of gladwrap, never roll it directly on a surface cos its impossible to peel up after. I picked a leaf off a bush outside and pressed it into the surface and carefully trimmed around the edge to get my shape. I peeled the leaf back off and draped the leaf over a flattened ball of dukit, then I pressed my mini into the top and created an indentaton for the base to sit. I removed the fairy and baked it and then put her back in place while the clay was cooling. It can shrink slightly or loose shape and putting her back while it was hardening up prevented fitting problems later. once it was gool, i added a touch of superglue, stuck her in then mixed up a little bit of greenstuff and covered over the gap between her base and the leaf. A final drybrush with soft greenish yellow was all that was needed to bring up the veining on the leaf. Looks great huh! www.coolminiornot.com/54502 |
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Post by c0d3monk33 on Oct 19, 2005 12:44:18 GMT 12
Ah Piritannical Wench - you've made my day...thanks for posting that supplier, I'll *definitely* be checking them out!
Nothing like finding local NZ suppliers of hobbyist stuff. Don't any of these companies advertise or something? They always seem *very* hard to locate.
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Post by PitYak Studios on Oct 19, 2005 13:02:25 GMT 12
Super sculpey for under $20 bucks! I reckon I might be winging some cash their way too!
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Pirate Wench
Scalpel supremo
my favourite finger paint is strawberry flavour
Posts: 353
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Post by Pirate Wench on Dec 12, 2005 22:01:34 GMT 12
ok, update on the polymer clay scene. I recently tried out two different liquid polymer clays. Both purchased through zigzag, I just gotta say these guys are fantastic. I have ordered twice from them, both times they have responded to me within hours of the order to confirm the shipping price and ask for my confirmation on the order. Shipping was a paltry $3.50 and I had my package on the doorstep the very next morning. And when I opened they gave me free stuff! both orders. And both orders were for under $20. Very cool, nice and easy source for wire, polymer clays and all sorts of other fun stuff and you can't scoff at $3.50for shipping
Oops now, to end the rave (i just really felt these gyus deserved a decent plug) The first product I used was the liquid sculpy, also called TLS it is in a squeeze bottle and is used mainly as a glue for giving extra adhereance for polymer clays. You can create transfers with it (the fun part) you print out whatever on your inkjet, roll out some ordinary white polymer clay and spread it with a thin layer of the tls, press your printout face down into it and be careful to smooth out air bubbles, bake as dircted. then you dampen the paper and rub it off with fingers, you get a pretty decent looking transfer, could be a nifty way to make tiny lil books etc. this stuff is milky, not terribly clear and quite flexible when cured
the stuff I am totally wowed with is fimo deco gel, another liquid polymer clay, but this one cures to an almost clear. I've used it to make fairy wings, i created a wire skelliton, laid it on glass then squeezed the gel out around it and baked. the stuff is very flexible, quite rubbery. It could be a good way to make stained glass window transfers. and I'm wondering about using it for water in small bakeable items. You can colour it with oil paints. could also make awesom wings for minis. If you created a mold using a silicone compound that can be heated. I know I have seen it on one of the polymer clay sites. and fill the mould with deco gel and bake, then just turn out and glue on
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Post by c0d3monk33 on Dec 13, 2005 8:08:33 GMT 12
Hi PW...do you have some photos of your fairy wings on the web anywhere?
I know other 28mm modellers have used that product to create very convincing stained glass window effects for churches, cathedrals etc.
I still haven't tried ZigZag but I'm glad to hear you had such a good experience with them...makes me even keener to try them. I just need to find some more modelling time!
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Pirate Wench
Scalpel supremo
my favourite finger paint is strawberry flavour
Posts: 353
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Post by Pirate Wench on Dec 15, 2005 7:27:27 GMT 12
here is the sample wing I made from the deco gel www.album.co.nz/photoset/1426photographed right against a bottle label to show the clarity, then slightly raised fom it and held up to show the texture and curled around to show the flex.. this stuff is super duperly flexible. Also note that I dusted my wing with pearlescent powder and then tried to wipe it off to get a better shot of the transparency so it's slightly grainy from that |
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Post by c0d3monk33 on Dec 15, 2005 8:03:35 GMT 12
Hey PW thanks for those photos! It looks very interesting...I wonder how hard to would be to trap in a balsawood or plasticard frame of some sort to create stained glass windows...probably not too hard eh? Hmm I'll add it to the list of supplies I want to buy from ZigZag  |
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